Talking to your
healthcare team

Talking to your healthcare team can help. Many people feel better and more in control when they know what is happening to them and why.

People often feel that hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it’s important for you to understand what’s happening and how the cancer and its treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for your questions.

Your family and friends may also have questions to ask. Your healthcare team should be happy to answer their questions, if they have your permission to. They can also give your family and friends advice on how they can care for you. We have more information for people supporting someone with cancer.

Tips for talking to your doctor

If you have hearing or speech difficulties

You may want to bring someone with you to speak on your behalf or sign any conversation you have with your doctor. You can also ask your doctors or nurses to write things down for you. Action on Hearing Loss can give you further information and support.

If you're partially sighted

If you’re partially sighted you can ask for written information to be provided in large print. Some organisations, including Macmillan, can provide information in Braille or as an audio CD. You can also ask your doctor if it’s okay to record their conversations with you.

You can get further information and support from RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People).

Thanks

We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. If you’d like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us on: bookletfeedback@macmillan.org.uk

All our information is reviewed by cancer or other relevant professionals to ensure that it’s accurate and reflects the best evidence available. We thank all those people who have provided expert review for the information on this page.

Our information is also reviewed by people affected by cancer to ensure it is as relevant and accessible as possible. Thank you to all those people who reviewed what you're reading and have helped our information to develop.

You could help us too when you join our Cancer Voices Network – find out more at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancervoices

We make every effort to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and up-to-date but it should not be relied upon as a substitute for specialist professional advice tailored to your situation. So far as is permitted by law, Macmillan does not accept liability in relation to the use of any information contained in this publication or third party information or websites included or referred to in it.